This is Why Minimalism Doesn’t Work if You’re Frugal

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Or, I probably should say, I get it – but I don’t like it. I appreciate those who can pull off this lifestyle, but honestly, it’s not for me. I just couldn’t bear to spend the money required to achieve that certain aesthetic. You know the one!

I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m ANTI-minimalist since that would imply I take minimalism seriously as a lifestyle choice when it is just a preference.

After being frugal my entire life and a minimalist for a little more than one year of that time, I can safely say that you can’t really afford to be a minimalist if you’re truly frugal. And I’m truly frugal!

Are you frugal? Are you a minimalist? I don’t think you can be both, so which one will you choose?

What I Actually Liked About Minimalism

Now that I’ve had time to think about this, I think what I liked about the movement is its focus on SIMPLICITY. I can get behind simplicity. I like being intentional with everything I do.

I did like that about the minimalist life. But the aesthetic that everyone associates with minimalism…that was so unrealistic and impractical! I’m not kidding when I say that I just saw a blog post that said one of the questions to ask yourself before making a purchase is “Does it match other things I own?”

What? That makes no sense. This rules out entire categories of important and practical items, like the hand-me-down dishware from your mom or the second-hand linens you found at a yard sale.

I couldn’t bring myself to buy certain things for the sake of “looking like a minimalist.”

What are your thoughts on this?

Related Reading on the Downsides of Minimalism

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I’m apparently not the only one who thinks there’s a fundamental problem with minimalism. Is it a fad? I’m not sure, but in the meantime, these articles are super interesting (and hilarious) reads!

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I agree with you but I still love the concept of minimalism! I don’t adhere to the strict rules of being minimal, but I do think that we, as consumers, tend to overbuy when we should be saving our money or buying items that are actually needed. I have put minimalism into my life more as a footnote. “Do I need this? Will I actually use it?” This is how I have put the concept into my life.

Hello Lena,
I think you have the definition of minimalism confused. It is not an Aesthetic . Being frugal is be minimalist. People may have there own interpretations but there is nothing minimal about buying a $600 phone to take notes.

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